Taplist

Tag: Pelican

Portland is Beervana beyond a shadow of a doubt, but don’t overlook the Oregon Coast when it comes to good drinks. Not only is the Oregon coast a beautiful place to visit and drive down, there’s plenty of good breweries and a handful of wineries and distilleries as well. Starting from the north and working your way south down the Pacific Coast Highway (US 101), although I wouldn’t recommend doing it all in one day.

Astoria: Located at the mouth of the Columbia River, where it meets the Pacific and separates Oregon from Washington, Astoria has a solid and small, but growing, beer scene. Fort George and Buoy are the two big names in town, they both can their beer and it’s available in the Portland market, but you should visit their locations. Buoy is out on a dock, completely with a glass floor to watch sea lions, while Fort George is a little further up the hill with commanding views of the town and river. Wet Dog Cafe and Astoria Brewing Company (which are run together) are right down on the waterfront boardwalk area. They share a brewery, but both locations are unique. Astoria Brewing has a simple tap room and bar, while Wet Dog is a full blown restaurant. On the Wet Dog side they have several dog named beers that aren’t available on the other side. The food is also really good. Worth a stop. The newest game in town is Reach BreakBrewing, which opened about a week before we got to stop in there before Festival of the Dark Arts. The beer was awesome, and ambitious, starting out day one with a barrel aged stout. These guys know what they are doing.

Gearhart: There’s not a brewery in Gearhart (that I know of) but there is the McMenamins Gearhart Hotel. It’s a really cool historic property, and of course you can find all the standard and special McMenamins beers there.

Seaside: Seaside is a pretty cool town, albeit very touristy. It’s about as close to what I would think of as a “beach” from the Southern US. Wide sandy beach, arcades and taffy shops, boardwalk etc. Very “East Coast” style beach town. I haven’t been to Seaside Brewing yet, but I see it every time we drive through there. Maybe next time.

Cannon Beach: Cannon Beach is one of my favorite places along the coast. It’s the first place along the coast my wife took me after I moved out to Oregon and home to the famous Haystack Rock. The last time we drove through there (on the way home from Cape Lookout) we noticed two new places in town that we’ll need to visit next time we’re in town. Pelican Brewing opened a new brewery and pub in Cannon Beach. I had heard about that but finally got to see where it was. Also, on the north side of town was Public Coast Brewing which, to my knowledge, is very new. We didn’t have time to stop at either as we made our way home, but we said we would go next time we were in town. Cannon Beach is also home to the Cannon Beach Distillery. While we were camping in Cape Lookout our friends had a couple bottles from CBD. One was Il Keyote, which is an agave liquor that’s barrel aged. The website says they treat it more like a brandy than a tequila, and I remember it being very smooth and very delicious.

Tillamook: Tillamook is a bit inland from the coast, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention de Garde Brewing. World famous for their wild fermented farmhouse style beers, absolutely worth the visit. And let’s be honest, you’re going into town for the cheese curds anyway. US 101 passes through town, so you’re still on the coastal highway, it just tucks inland around the large Tillamook Bay.

Pacific City: Pacific City is home to the main operations of Pelican Brewing. They have a gorgeous brewpub located, quite literally, on the beach. Located next to one of the public parking and beach access areas with great views of the beach and Chief Kiwanda Rock (which I’ve also seen referred to as Haystack Rock.. confusing yeah?).

Lincoln City: Lincoln City is a small town, and is geared more towards grocery stores and supplies than beach rentals and kites. Lincoln City is home to the McMenamins Lighthouse Pub which, despite being very small, has it’s own brewery and supplies beer up the coast to Gearhart.

Depoe Bay: Depoe Bay is a tiny, tiny town and home to the worlds smallest working harbor. This is a great place to do whale watching. Depoe Bay didn’t used to have a brewery, but they do now. Former Three Mugs brewer and OBC Member Chris Jennings is now the head brewer at The Horn Public House and Brewery located in the former Spouting Horn Restaurant location. Haven’t been there yet, but it’s on the list.

Devils Punchbowl: So, not a town so much as a roadside attraction, the Devils Punchbowl Natural Area is home to the Flying Dutchman Winery. A small winery, but with award winning wine. When we stopped in to do a tasting they told us that the wines are open fermented and barrel aged outside and they pick up some of the salty, ocean qualities. Not sure if you can really taste the difference, but it makes for a neat story and unique selling point. The wines were also very good.

Newport: Newport is home to Rogue, which is very divisive, some people love them, some people hate them, but they are one of the largest breweries in Oregon. They have several locations throughout the state, but their main operation is in Newport. It’s worth visiting to take the tour, and hear the story about the “massive red erection”. Across the parking lot is the Rogue Distillery. They make whiskey and gin using a lot of the same ingredient as they use for beer. Dead Guy whiskey uses the exact same grain bill as the Dead Guy beer. Rogue also has a farm in eastern Oregon where they grow a lot of their own grains, hops, fruits and herbs, to use in the beers, spirits and restaurants.

Yachats: Yachats is very small, but home to Yachats Brewery and Farmstore, which my wife and I recently visited on the way down to camping in Florence. It’s a great place and totally worth the visit. It’s a bit out of the way but trust me, it’s worth the journey. Great beer, awesome food and great people. Go there.

Florence and points South: There’s not really a whole lot south of Florence. Defeat River Brewing is in Reedsport, which we planned on going to while we were in Florence, but we didn’t make it. 7 Devils Brewing is in Coos Bay, which sounds vaguely familiar. I feel like I’ve had some of their beers before, but I never been to the location down in Coos Bay. To my knowledge, there are no breweries south of Coos Bay, but this is Oregon so I wouldn’t be shocked to find out there was.

So there you have it, your brewery tour of the Oregon coast (with a winery and two distilleries thrown in for good measure). Head on out to the coast and drink in the view! (Sorry, the puns just write themselves).